NFL Overreactions: Tua Tagovailoa’s MVP campaign is underway, Brock Purdy has proven he deserves to be QB1
Sports Seriously’s Mackenzie Salmon “overreacts” to the biggest storylines from Week 1 of the NFL season.
Sports Seriously, USA TODAY
The NFL closes out the opening week of the 2023 season with perhaps one of the most anticipated games of the entire year.
On this year’s first edition of “Monday Night Football,” Aaron Rodgers kicked off his tenure with the New York Jets by taking on the Buffalo Bills, who are three-time defending AFC East champions.
Unfortunately for Rodgers and the Jets, the star quarterback’s debut was cut short during the team’s first offensive possession. Zach Wilson, the No. 2 pick in the Jets’ 2021 NFL Draft, replaced eventual Rodgers explained for the game.
Stay with USA TODAY Sports throughout the evening for live coverage of all the key developments from Monday night’s contest:
The Bills’ offense gained 188 yards in the first half. Josh Allen has 133 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. Stefon Diggs had a game-high six catches for 54 yards and a TD in the first half.
The Jets’ offense struggled to move the ball without Aaron Rodgers, but they got a very good half from Breece Hall, who gained 109 rushing yards.
Jets linebacker Quincy Williams has a game-high eight tackles.
Bills linebacker Matt Milano and Jets safety Jordan Whitehead both recorded interceptions in the first half. —Tyler Dragon
Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs finish early.
Allen found Diggs in the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown. Diggs had five catches, 48 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
Diggs’ touchdown capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive.
For as much hype and hype – even by New York standards – the arrival of Aaron Rodgers generated, this team’s main concern for months has been its offensive line. The four-time MVP immediately came under fire in his brief debut Monday night, leaving the game with an ankle injury after being sacked on his fourth snap.
While the injury smacks of the bad luck this franchise has suffered for most of the 55 years since Joe Namath led it to victory in Super Bowl 3, it should come as no surprise that Rodgers quickly felt the heat. This was his first game action behind a line with Mekhi Becton, recently moved to right tackle, and Duane Brown, left tackle, who came off the PUP (shoulder injury) list on August 23 but did not do so in the preseason was used.
And don’t forget that. As a condition of acquiring Rodgers before the 2023 draft, the Jets traded the 13th pick of the first round to the Green Bay Packers for their 15th overall selection. It was widely speculated – and entirely logical – that New York would select an offensive lineman, especially given GM Joe Douglas’ affinity for blockers. But after the Packers took Iowa pass rusher Lukas Van Ness at No. 13, the Pittsburgh Steelers traded ahead of the Jets and grabbed Georgia LT Broderick Jones at No. 14. There was never an admission that Jones was New York’s man was — and a subsequent video of Douglas from the Jets’ draft room suggested that wasn’t the case — but he appeared to be the last blue-chip O-line candidate on the board. Ultimately, Douglas ended up going 15th with Iowa State pass rusher Will McDonald IV, and the rest is history… but hopefully not more unfortunate Jets history if Rodgers’ injury proves to be short-term.
But it definitely makes you wonder with such high-stakes poker and whether Jones would actually have been the choice in April and on the court Monday and not the 38-year-old Brown if he had been an option. – Nate Davis
On the first play after the turnover, Jets running back Breece Hall found an opening up the middle and ran for an 83-yard gain. The long run set New York up for a game-winning 26-yard field goal.
The long run gave Hall 109 yards on just two carries. —Tyler Dragon
The Jets defense is playing inspired football.
Bills QB Josh Allen was intercepted by Jets safety Jordan Whitehead on a deep pass intended for wide receiver Deonte Harty. New York took over at its own 4-yard line.
Bills kicker Tyler Bass hit a 40-yard field goal on Buffalo’s second series. The field goal was the only score in the first quarter for both teams.
The Jets had 44 total yards of offense after one quarter.
The mood at MetLife Stadium on Monday night was quickly dampened when Aaron Rodgers suffered an injury on the team’s first offensive possession against the Bills.
Rodgers received three dropbacks on the drive and was under pressure on each one, culminating in a sack on a first down play in which Bills edge rusher Leonard Floyd came from the left side of the line to bring Rodgers to the turf. He lay on the ground for a moment and Jets trainers rushed onto the field to examine him. A few moments later they helped him to his feet and he limped off the field with help and immediately went to the blue medical tent on the sideline.
The Jets announced that Rodgers suffered an ankle injury and considered his return questionable. – Lorenzo Reyes
It may not be long before Aaron Rodgers rewrites the Jets’ single-season record book. The Jets only had one passer, team legend Joe Namath, have more than 4,000 yards in a single season – and he barely managed 4,007 yards in 1967 (albeit in 14 games). Four-time league MVP Rodgers has topped 4K 10 times.
Additionally, a Jets field general found the 30-TD passing plateau, and he may not be the person you’re thinking of. When Ryan Fitzpatrick defeated the likes of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker in 2015, he set a club record with 31 air strikes. Rodgers has reached the 30-plus mark eight times, three of them over 40.
As for efficiency? Chad Pennington posted a Jets record 104.2 QB rating in 2002, the last time the Jets won the AFC East. Rodgers’ career passer rating is 103.6, making him the second-best player of all time behind Patrick Mahomes (105.3).
The Gotham Green eraser may need to be brought out if Rodgers lives up to the high hopes his new team and fans have for him. – Nate Davis
Aaron Rodgers’ highly anticipated introduction to the green-clad MetLife Stadium fans came as the star quarterback carried the American flag on the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Aaron Rodgers has officially taken the field.
About 50 minutes before kickoff, Rodgers came out of the locker room and stood by the tunnel waiting to put the offense in front. Cameras at MetLife Stadium showed Rodgers directly under the overhang of the tunnel, causing the approximately 15,000 fans to erupt in cheers. Rodgers and the rest of the offense came out and briefly huddled in the south end zone. Rodgers appeared to make a few brief comments, although it was tight end CJ Uzomah who rallied the offense with a lengthy speech.
After the offense broke the huddle, Rodgers went to the sideline, threw a few warmup passes and took snaps from starting center Connor McGovern.
It’s just another season opener for Rodgers, entering his 19th season, but from the press box his body language appears relaxed.
Rodgers has won his last nine games on “Monday Night Football.” In those games, he had 23 touchdown passes compared to three interceptions, with a rating of 114.0. Overall, Rodgers has scored 41 touchdowns in 18 career “MNF” starts. – Lorenzo Reyes
Aaron Rodgers’ debut with the New York Jets coincides with the introduction of retro jerseys with the block JETS logo – topped by a real airplane – that the club wore from 1978 to 1997. Since then, the Jets have retained the logo plains, white pants and jerseys with simple green stripes used from 1978 to 1989, in mothballs.
These threads call the new version “Legacy White,” which includes the new “Gotham Green” color palette, and also pay tribute to the New York Sack Exchange era, when the Jets featured one of the league’s most feared defenses – and just weeks after Leading defensive lineman Joe Klecko was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Legacy Whites return in Week 4 when the Jets host the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs on “Sunday Night Football.” But for long-time supporters of the team, a permanent move could be in order. – Nate Davis
The Bills announced they were inactive on Monday’s ballot. Hamlin is a healthy scratch.
Jets pass rusher Carl Lawson is among the inactive players for New York.
At approximately 5:05 p.m. ET, MetLife Stadium’s public address system announced that those on the field and in the lower bowl should immediately vacate the area due to severe weather in the area. Players who wanted to work early on the venue’s newly installed turf were unable to play for a while.
That included coaches — Jets head coach Robert Saleh walked up his customary stadium steps more than three hours before kickoff — and broadcast crews filming their pregame shows.
Forecasts indicate the storms could last until 8 p.m. ET.
“Monday Night Football” begins Monday, September 11th at 8:15 p.m. ET and airs on ESPN, ABC and ESPN+.
Sauce Gardner vs. Stefon Diggs
Diggs had 8 catches for 130 yards in two meetings against the Jets last season, but only one catch was against Gardner in coverage. The Jets’ top cornerback and Buffalo’s best wide receiver will face off against each other on a regular basis. Once the two are lined up facing each other, prepare your popcorn.
Gardner allowed a 53.5% completion rate as a rookie last season. Diggs has produced three consecutive seasons with at least 100 receptions and 1,200 receiving yards.
Jets defensive line vs. Bills O-line
The Jets boast one of the most disruptive defenses in football, led by DT Quinnen Williams, who is coming off a 12-sack season. The Jets’ defense is led by their front four. If they can pressure Josh Allen and keep him under pressure, the Jets have a good chance of winning on Monday night.
Allen was sacked 33 times last season, eight of those sacks coming by the Jets.
Aaron Rodgers vs. Bills Defense
Rodgers has a nine-game winning streak on “Monday Night Football.” Will he extend the series with a new team?
Garrett Wilson was compared to Davante Adams during training camp. Time will tell if Rodgers and Wilson can build a relationship as strong as Rodgers and Adams did in Green Bay. The Bills had a top-10 defense in 2022, led by a secondary that produced 17 interceptions a season ago. —Tyler Dragon
Yes, the popular Peyton and Eli Manning alternative broadcast returns for the 2023 NFL season starting Monday nights on ESPN2. Monday’s guests include tennis legend John McEnroe and Ryan Fitzpatrick, who played for both the Jets and Bills during his 17-year NFL career.
The duo worked together for 20 years at FOX before bringing their talents to ESPN last year. Now in her second season with the network, her 22nd is remarkable; Buck and Aikman have now passed the legendary combination of Pat Summerall and John Madden for the longest tenure as NFL broadcast partners.
Together, they have played in six Super Bowls and more than 300 regular-season contests. —Chris Bumbaca
Five of our eight experts pick the Jets, who enter the contest as 2.5-point favorites, according to BetMGM.
Here are some tips and explanations from our experts:
Tyler Dragon: Bills 25, Jets 21
This domestic matchup closes Week 1. The Jets won the offseason, but the Bills are still the best team in the AFC East for now.
Victoria Hernandez: Bills 32, Jets 27
All the hype is about Aaron Rodgers, but last year he had his worst season since his injury in 2017 and he has yet to prove he can fit in well with the Jets. Josh Allen and the Bills’ offense is primed for another playoff run and they will easily cover the gap and emerge victorious.
Jordan Mendoza: Bills 28, Jets 23
One might assume that the signing of Aaron Rodgers would result in the Jets becoming a clear title contender in the AFC, but it seems like people forget that the division still belongs to Buffalo. Still boasting one of the best offenses in the game, Buffalo is stopping the Rodgers hype to finally return to the Super Bowl.
The wait is finally over as four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers will take the field on Monday night, marking his first game with a team other than the Green Bay Packers after his 18-year tenure with the franchise.
But Monday will also serve as a debut for several other notable figures. Dalvin Cook will see his first start with the Jets after the longtime Minnesota Vikings running back landed with New York this summer. And on the Bills’ side, head coach Sean McDermott will take over the defensive duties from Leslie Frazier, who announced in February that he was taking a leave of absence from coaching.
However, all eyes will be on Rodgers and the Jets offense. During the preseason, the offense struggled to find its way, and the performance of the offensive line raises questions about the unit’s readiness for Week 1. However, Rodgers has said the early problems do not worry him.
NFL Films’ cameras took center stage at Jets head coach Robert Saleh’s “All Gas No Break” training camp. There were plenty of Aaron Rodgers highlight montages as he was front and center for most of the series, adjusting to new teammates after 18 seasons in Green Bay.
Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner, the 2022 offensive and defensive rookies of the year, and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams were also among the standouts on “Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets.”
Here are the highlights and low points of this season’s documentaries on HBO.
All odds are provided by BetMGM
What the Monday Night Football odds highlight is that the New York Jets are among the best bets for NFL Week 1 as home underdogs against the Buffalo Bills. According to BetMGM NFL odds, the Bills have a 2.5 point advantage. Would you like to bet? BetMGM is among the best mobile sports betting apps and offers the best NFL betting promotions in 2023.
According to the best NFL betting apps, Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has some of the best NFL MVP betting odds in 2023. Both the Jets and Bills have some of the best early Super Bowl betting odds.
The Jets are also one of the most popular NFL future bets following Rodgers’ arrival from Green Bay. Will his arrival usher in a new era in New York?
Are you interested in betting on other games? Our guide to the best NFL betting odds, tips and spreads is a useful resource for browsing Thursday Night Football and/or Monday Night Football odds.
If you are new to sports betting, don’t worry. Our beginner tips for placing bets online are a good place to start. And USA TODAY readers can score exclusive promos and bonus codes at the best online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.
How important is the win in Week 1?
Their eventual Super Bowl 58 winner is most likely 1-0, considering 46 of the 57 Lombardi Trophy winners (81%) triumphed in their openers. Since the league’s expansion and realignment in 2002, 53% of teams that started 1-0 qualified for the playoffs, while 75% of those that started 0-1 failed to reach the postseason.
The first Sunday of the 2023 NFL season featured many notable debuts and surprising results, including a face plan by the Bengals. – Nate Davis
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